‘The Movement’ @ Jubilee Theatre
Graphics by Na’Tori Harris; photos by Jaren Collins / JCI Creatives
—Ramona Harper
In the annals of American history, we usually think of “D-Day” as June 6th, 1944, the day the Allied Forces landed in France to liberate Western Europe from the horrors of Nazism. However, a lesser known “D-Day” is, perhaps, May 2nd, 1963, so named by the young people of Alabama who led a non-violent protest in downtown Birmingham to liberate the American South from the degradation of segregation and the injustices of racism.
Playwright Kathy D. Harrison’s The Movement is a timely and profoundly relevant production of Jubilee Theatre to honor Black History Month. An emotionally explosive choreopoem of dramatic storytelling, poetic narrative, impassioned movement, original music and a cappella song directed by Jubilee artistic director D. Wambui Richardson, The Movement captures that “D-Day” and a fraught time in American history—when the Black school-age children of Birmingham found their voice as youthful freedom fighters who would influence the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
An ensemble of nine stellar young performers portray high schoolers who learned the way of non-violent protest and propelled the civil rights movement into fast-forward at a time when it was losing momentum: the grown-ups of Birmingham were growing weary and more fearful of being jailed or losing their jobs when they tried to fight against the city’s crushing segregation laws.
Out of the mouths of babes came wisdom and courage, as some 4,000 school-age young people decided they would march for freedom and do their part in the struggle through the Children’s Crusade.
Led by Rev. Martin Luther King’s inspirational encouragement and the Rev. James Bevel’s astute insights on non-violent protest (along with those of his wife, civil rights leader Diane Nash), the youth of Birmingham were less fearful of personal economic fallout from protesting, and thought jail time was less likely because they were “just kids.”
But on May 2nd, thousands of children did go to jail after suffering harm inflicted by Sheriff Bull Connor’s vicious dogs, fire hoses and billy-club beatings.
America saw the viciousness of segregation on nationwide TV: images of kids being beaten for peacefully protesting. The conscience of a nation awakened to a need for change. The Movement captures the brutality and emotional turmoil of those times, presenting an emotionally moving, living history lesson of the civil rights movement through text, movement, and song.
A capella music, under Pamela Dawson’s creative musical direction, moves the storyline through the children’s experiences. Opening with the scene-setting “This Is Our Story,” we are moved through time in “”Segregated/Separated,” in which the shocking, actual words of Jim Crow laws are recited and sung in ensemble unison and solos.
”Jive Talk” highlights the smooth-talking DJ Shelly on Birmingham’s renowned WENN radio station. A pioneer as one of the first Black radio disc jockeys in Alabama’s history, DJ Shelly Stewart, also known as “The Mouth of the South,” used coded jive talk language on the air to give secret directions to the teens’ “whisper campaign”—letting them know when and where protests were planned. Many protest marches started from Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church, the same place where four little girls would be killed in a bombing of the church in September, 1963.
In “A Letter from Birmingham,” the ensemble sings about Dr. King’s famous message, written when he was jailed in the city only a few weeks before the Children’s March. “Do Something” is a paean to powerful protest; “Get Ready,” “We Ready,” and “We Pray” anchor us emotionally to Birmingham’s D-Day, the largest children’s march for civil rights. “March on Children” and “A Story Ending” create a triumphant finale to the Children’s Crusade’s courageous and impactful work for freedom.
A cappella singing requires perfect pitch, and every member of this ensemble has strong vocals that are pitch perfect on every note and heartfelt in dramatic expressiveness. These young performers are amazing talents and their performances in The Movement are superb.
Infused throughout text and song is the dynamic choreography of Kiandra Brooks that moves the ensemble in handclapping, foot-stomping marching, step-dancing, and urban social dance--including couples in a high-flying Lindy Hop segment that’s pure joy to watch.
There are no stand-alone stars in The Movement, but each member of the ensemble gives a star performance, with equal time singing freedom songs and narrating the words of powerful historical leaders and personalities, among them Frederick Douglass, Ruby Bridges, Rev Ralph Abernathy, Rosa Parks, and Dr. King himself.
Every member of the ensemble merits a singular commendation for outstanding performance. They are: Micah Anderson, Ezra Burdett, Ronald Johnson, Sierra Ortan, Tamya Simmons, Kyle B. Spears, Deshawn Thomas, Nathan D. Thurman, Skye Turner.
As Jubilee Theatre approaches its 45th year under the artistic direction of D. Wambui Richardson, the theatre continues to hold an esteemed place in Fort Worth’s theatrical history as a landmark presence for honoring the Black experience in American theatre. The Movement is a must-see production.
WHEN: January 31-March 2, 2025
WHERE 506 Main Street, Fort Worth
WEB: jubileetheatre.org Box office 817-338-4204
